Bike Test

[BigSi]

Went to a Honda motorbike open day this weekend where there were literally hundreds of bikes on display. Was persuaded to sit on a Honda Fireblade and a Kawasaki Ninja, which got me thinking about how to get a bike licence?

Any info would be much appreciated!

Oh and what bike are best! 

[Bob696]

first you need to pass a cbt before being allowed on the road with upto a 125cc.

2nd pass a full test to ride a bike upto 34bhp

3rd drive for 2 years (or pass a 2nd full test and be over 21)

then you can ride a ninja

I think you could take an intensive course, with bike provided, that lasts 1-2 weeks that may get you through all three tests.

[Range Rover Blues]

You can still take your test on a big big and get the full licence, it's called direct access and the test costs an arm and a leg.  As of the end of this year the direct access window will be closed AFAIK.

[Boggert]

I did my CBT in August, it great.

I am doing the theory test soon, as soon as its done i'll get my DA booked.

Get it done before October the rules change then it becomes harder.

[NiftyWolfie]

I did a direct access course ... one day for CBT one day learning on a bigger bike (500cc I think) then next day was 1/2 a day practice followed by test in the afternoon.....that was it for my direct access course

As for bikes....thats more a personal choice...just remember you have to ride it...no one else !

[karlo]

Oh and what bike are best! 

As for bikes....thats more a personal choice...just remember you have to ride it...no one else !

This is true, don't be suckered into the trap of "an R1 or a CBR 1000RR are the best" cos you may regret it after a few miles, test ride different styles of bike cos you may be best suited to a sports tourer, a tourer or even a cruiser.

Also make sure you wear the correct gear as gravel rash doesn't wash off invest now, don't live to regret it !  A good reason to wear the right gear

[stuvy]

Oh and what bike are best! 

As for bikes....thats more a personal choice...just remember you have to ride it...no one else !

This is true, don't be suckered into the trap of "an R1 or a CBR 1000RR are the best" cos you may regret it after a few miles, test ride different styles of bike cos you may be best suited to a sports tourer, a tourer or even a cruiser.

Also make sure you wear the correct gear as gravel rash doesn't wash off invest now, don't live to regret it !  A good reason to wear the right gear

TRUE!!

But, different bikes make different sounds, you can have a lovel rumbling V Twin or a single cylinder thumper, or my favourite, a screaming 4 cylinder honda! 19,000rpm any one?(cbr250rr)

[Landynuts]

I did my Direct Access Course with these guys MOTAG 3 years ago. They where really good (though probably not the cheapest) and both my wife and I passed with out to much trouble (I have no connections with them other than as a customer). If you are thinking about it do it now as things get a whole lot more difficult later in the years as most of the test centres are being forced to close!
As for the best bike as others have said you will have to judge for yourself but getting test rides with a new licence is not always easy.

[diggerdog36]

You can still take your test on a big big and get the full licence, it's called direct access and the test costs an arm and a leg

The test for DAS is the same price as the normal test......£60 weekdays and £70 weekends!

[glaggs]

If you've never ridden a bike befor then anything will be great. If you do your training with a reputable company you will pick up on whats what and probablt be taken to visit lots of local showrooms. Take your time and decide what you realy want. On todays roads most 600cc sports bikes are too fast - they will genuinly hit speeds of 150mph. More importantly they will break the speed limit in seconds, you'll find they can do 70+ as easily and quickly as your car will do 40mph. The big 1000cc plus bikes would be capable of wining a GP in the days of Barry Sheen - in the right hands they are fun, fast and safe - but not an ideal 1st bike. To start with look at the 600cc 'retro' or sports tourer style bikes. Get a couple of years and some miles under your belt and then you'll have more idea of your own ability and what you relay want.

[diggerdog36]

The big 10000cc plus bikes would be capable of wining a GP

:shock: :shock: Im not suprised!!!!

[glaggs]

The big 10000cc plus bikes would be capable of wining a GP

:shock: :shock: Im not suprised!!!!

? 

[stuvy]

If you've never ridden a bike befor then anything will be great. If you do your training with a reputable company you will pick up on whats what and probablt be taken to visit lots of local showrooms. Take your time and decide what you realy want. On todays roads most 600cc sports bikes are too fast - they will genuinly hit speeds of 150mph. More importantly they will break the speed limit in seconds, you'll find they can do 70+ as easily and quickly as your car will do 40mph. The big 10000cc plus bikes would be capable of wining a GP in the days of Barry Sheen - in the right hands they are fun, fast and safe - but not an ideal 1st bike. To start with look at the 600cc 'retro' or sports tourer style bikes. Get a couple of years and some miles under your belt and then you'll have more idea of your own ability and what you relay want.

my busa did 95mph in first!!!! it did have an un-needed addition of having a 1500cc bore on it hough :P

have a look for one of these, fitted with a rare thing for a bike, a fuel gauge!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iffgsjlcZqg&feature=related

[discowoman]

Go for it - you will never regret it.....as long as you ride like EVERYONEis going to kill you  :lol: might sound silly - but its amazing how paranoid you become when riding..cars pulling out - wet drain covers - that horrid banding they put on 'tempory' repairs (actually the same stuff that skid pans are surfaced with !!  :?)
I have had everything from a Honda C50 up to a Suzuki GSX750ES at the moment I have a GSX400F its a 1985 and is great fun - when it runs... :oops:
if you MUST have a 'big' bike give the Bandit 600 a serious look..they are comfy - quite quick (120ish) economical (mine used to get 45-55mpg) and there is a miriad of tuning options - and customisation out there to make yours stand out from the crowd..they start at a N reg and arer still in production, and as a plus point they can eb restricted to 33bhp if you dont go for your DAS.
Once you decide how youre doing your test, then take a look at your local bike showroom/back street dealer, and sit on as many bikes as possible - That way you may find there is a style of bike that suits you more..
Good luck ;)

[glaggs]

"..they start at a N reg and arer still in production,"  .... I actually had an M reg one, one of the first in the country but I agree they are an excelent first bike and relatively cheap, with reasonable prformance.

[clbarclay]

Who says it needs to be a road only bike? You could always get one that can go greenlaning as well. Just don't do like a friend and miss judge the wading depth.

[Bush Tucker Man]

I'm another one who keeps thinking about training/taking the test, even SWMBO has made encouraging noises in the past.
Then.............. we used to watch British, or World Superbikes, & she'd see the crashes, so it always got turned around to
"You're not having one!!!
Women! :roll:

Go for it - you will never regret it.....as long as you ride like EVERYONEis going to kill you  :lol: might sound silly - but its amazing how paranoid you become when riding..cars pulling out - wet drain covers - that horrid banding they put on 'tempory' repairs (actually the same stuff that skid pans are surfaced with !!

It's the same (un?) healthy paranoia on unpowered 2-wheels too.

Although we don't have the advantage of 55watt headlamps & thick leathers, I know from experience that gravel-rash hurts just as much at 20 when all you've got on is Lycra

A friend once went 'one-better' (worse!)
If anyone knows HolmeMoss (A6024 on the West Yorkshire/Derbyshire border), he came off at a measured 55MPH after a front flat :shock: :shock: :shock:
Now, he was a mess for quite a while

As for bikes....thats more a personal choice...just remember you have to ride it...no one else !

This is true, don't be suckered into the trap of "an R1 or a CBR 1000RR are the best" cos you may regret it after a few miles, test ride different styles of bike cos you may be best suited to a sports tourer, a tourer or even a cruiser.

I've got to admit to the desire for a Ducati, but it's got to be the 916 shape :drool:
Still not sure about the new 1098 :-k :-k

[stuvy]

Lycra! has as much protection as the hair on your skin i too have felt the pain of gravel rash and cycles!!

Have a stroll around a few bike shops and chat to guys when there with there bikes, and youl be surprised at how friendly they are to car owners!!

[richo]

You can buy my sp1 if you want,easy bikes to ride.